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M4 Mac mini's efficiency

jeffgeerling.com

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Re: M4 Mac mini's efficiency

#431

Post by virtualwhys »

hoppp wrote: post #425
nextos wrote: post #9

I use Linux, but I think the cheapest M4 Mini offers an incredible value and efficiency per €. With education discount, it's around €650, including VAT. It's pretty hard to find such a silent and powerful machine for that little. Any comparable options? A good fanless build with a i3-14100T is more expensive and 40-50% slower on Geekbench. An i5 is a bit closer. Some 2024 Ryzen CPUs can match or exceed its multicore…

There is a linux for apple silicon called ashani linux.

Pretty sure only M1/M2 supported, so none Apple's new offerings will fly...yet.

Shame, I'd love to use Linux on Apple's latest and greatest MacBooks, but will stay with tried and true Dell Precision series until the year of the Linux Apple laptop becomes a reality.

Re: M4 Mac mini's efficiency

#432

Post by jillesvangurp »

siddharthgoel88 wrote: post #254

Any feedback on how it comes along for regular Software Development (backend stuff) activity and as a common home PC? Looking at the benchmarks looks like there shouldn't be any issue but any first hand experience would be greatly appreciated.

I'm pretty happy with my M1 mac book pro with 16 Gb. I'd expect this to be faster. I typically have intellij, vs code, slack, a bunch of docker containers, etc. running. All fine. Get more memory maybe.

Re: M4 Mac mini's efficiency

#433

Post by azinman2 »

afavour wrote: post #428
derefr wrote: post #395

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The GP's same argument also applies to the Magic Mouse, as it happens: > It's a way of signaling how the product should be used. In the Magic Mouse's case, it came out just on the cusp of wireless mice becoming "a thing." Most people, if they were allowed , would have just left the mouse tethered to a computer by its charging cable at all times, since that's what they were used to. But Apple thought you'd be happier…

> it made charging annoying and flow-breaking enough that people would put it off as long as possible — which would make people realize that the Magic Mouse's battery lasted for weeks on a charge At a certain point this just reads like Apple apologia. They made a mouse you can’t use while it’s charging as a means to advertise how long the battery lasts? What?

But it’s not an apology, it’s the right design decision. The battery charges to a usable amount extremely quickly, and if you could plug it in all the time most would, which defeats the point.

Re: M4 Mac mini's efficiency

#434

Post by TomK32 »

gzer0 wrote: post #152
naoru wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A comparable option in my opinion would be Minisforum 790S7. They also have a separate mini-ITX motherboard from that one if you want to DIY. The CPU in it is faster in raw multi-thread performance, single-threaded it's a bit slower, but still quite impressive. The only problem I had with Minisforum is that they couldn't supply the exact hardware I ordered and their suggested solution was either to wait for 1+ month…

I can't find a Minisforum 790S7 for anywhere near the price of the base model mac mini. I am seeing $459.00 USD and that is "BAREBONE (NO OS/RAM/SSD)" [1]. I am comparing this to the M4 Mac Mini base model, that does indeed come with an OS, RAM, and an SSD[2] at $499 USD. [1] https://store.minisforum.com/products/minisforum-mini-itx-pc... [2] https://www.apple.com/us-edu/shop/buy-mac/mac-mini/apple-m4-...

For the base model, but any upgrade on the Mac will kill that advantage instantly. For those keen enough to solder better parts on it the Mac Mini base model is the worst kind of barebone, filled with components that shouldn't even be produced anymore.

Re: M4 Mac mini's efficiency

#435

Post by Y-bar »

nobrains wrote: post #420

> If only they didn't put the power button on the bottom. Question for HN: How would you redesign the power button, assuming you work at Apple and the final design should align with Apple's design ethos?

Since I turn off my Mac almost every night, just like I turn off my television, lights, and other stuff when I don’t use them. To me, personally, it makes no sense to waste the electricity for about 15 hrs * 365 days per year.

I would put the power on any vertical side of the mini if I were designing it for my use.

Re: M4 Mac mini's efficiency

#436

Post by manmal »

lurking_swe wrote: post #325
manmal wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That certainly works, but Docker will use a Linux VM, right?

yes, unfortunately. Doesn’t really matter for the web apps i’m hosting, but I could see it being an issue for certain apps/workloads! I suppose you could try running Asashi Linux in the future? I think it only works on m1 and m2 mac’s at the moment but don’t quote me on that.

Yes unfortunately there’s no Linux that runs on the metal on an M4 yet.

Re: M4 Mac mini's efficiency

#437

Post by manmal »

lurking_swe wrote: post #325
manmal wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That certainly works, but Docker will use a Linux VM, right?

yes, unfortunately. Doesn’t really matter for the web apps i’m hosting, but I could see it being an issue for certain apps/workloads! I suppose you could try running Asashi Linux in the future? I think it only works on m1 and m2 mac’s at the moment but don’t quote me on that.

Orbstack might improve energy consumption for your setup, they are applying some clever hacks.

Re: M4 Mac mini's efficiency

#438

Post by m0dest »

redler wrote: post #347
vunderba wrote: post #298

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mind this design decision a hell of a lot less than the baffling deliberate decision to map EVERY KEYBOARD BUTTON to be equivalent to the power button (which the damn thing already has) on their laptop line-up. I love it when my macbook is turned off and I accidentally nudge a single letter on the keyboard and it powers back on - not to mention when you're drying to clean it with a micro fiber cloth.

Just lock the screen and you’re good to go for keyboard cleaning.

With a locked screen, key presses go to the password field. I have twice caused my user account to become disabled due to too many password attempts while cleaning my keyboard.

Re: M4 Mac mini's efficiency

#439

Post by Foobar8568 »

nicce wrote: post #86
no_wizard wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

all you need is a .edu address If I recall correctly. you can buy them on alumni addresses. That said, a far chunk of HNs never completed college, like myself and lost access to any email accounts of this sort, which only further supports your argument directly, as the EDU discount isn't universally attainable

Regardless, if people start to abuse this by getting discount while not actually being student or teacher, we can say goodbye to that discount and real students and teachers will suffer from it.

In Switzerland (Europe?) we can easily get cheaper price, from official resellers, than the edu price. Apple store won't match.

Re: M4 Mac mini's efficiency

#440

Post by n_ary »

lukevp wrote: post #329
vunderba wrote: post #298

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mind this design decision a hell of a lot less than the baffling deliberate decision to map EVERY KEYBOARD BUTTON to be equivalent to the power button (which the damn thing already has) on their laptop line-up. I love it when my macbook is turned off and I accidentally nudge a single letter on the keyboard and it powers back on - not to mention when you're drying to clean it with a micro fiber cloth.

If you fully shut down a mac laptop, you have to press and hold the power button to turn it back on. Not sure what you’re talking about here and probably why you’re getting downvoted.

Since the introduction of M1 series, there is no permanent shutdown. Even after full shutdown, any keypress on keyboard will power up the system.
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